Agricultural Conservation Easement
523 Acres, Established 2002
Access: Private property. No public access.
Conservation Values: Agricultural productivity, plant and wildlife habitat.
The Pioneer Dawson Nichols Ranch is an Agricultural Easement donated by Scott, Beverly and Beth Smith because of their love of the land and desire to protect their family’s historical connection to the property. Now owned by their heirs, this ranch has been in the family since the 1850s when ancestors traveled west and saved gold dust to buy the land.
This property is located in southern Nevada County and is adjacent to the eastern edge of the Spenceville Wildlife Recreation Area. The working cattle ranch is predominately a blue oak woodland and an annual grassland. There is a perennial stream that flows through the property for 1.25 miles and two large wetlands that attract a variety of migratory birds.